Bernard returns to alma mater to coach safeties
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Tyler Almond has announced the hiring of C-N alum Desmond Bernard to return to the program to be C-N’s safeties coach.
VIDEO: Desmond Bernard Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Tyler Almond has announced the hiring of C-N alum Desmond Bernard to return to the program to be C-N's safeties coach.
Bernard takes over for Almond, who coached the position last year.
"It's always important to add former players to our staff and we got lucky in the hiring of Des Bernard," Almond said. "Coach Bernard brings FBS experience in both coaching and recruiting. He is very energetic and will add a lot of value to our safety room."
Bernard joined Scott Abell's staff at Rice in February of 2025 as a graduate assistant and worked with the Owls' corners.
Bernard joined the Owls from Eastern Michigan, where he was a grad assistant working with the Eagles, corners, nickels, and safeties. He began his coaching career as an intern at Wake Forest in 2023 working with both the coaching and recruiting staff.
A former walk-on defensive back at Toledo, where he was a member of a MAC title team in 2017 and two bowl teams, before transferring to Carson-Newman in 2019, where he played both defensive back and wide receiver. He completed his playing career as a grad transfer wide receiver at Ohio Dominican in 2022.
He graduated from Carson-Newman in 2021 with a degree in Social Work as well as his Master's in Education in 2024.
